Donald Trump and European far‑right cite Ceuta migrant surge to push stricter immigration policies

Images of hundreds of migrants attempting to cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta – the largest wave since 2021, with about 60,000 arrivals in a few days and at least nine deaths – have been used by U.S. President Donald Trump and European far‑right parties to argue for tougher immigration rules. Trump warned, “Remember this image. This is what our country will look like in three years if the wrong side wins,” referring to the upcoming U.S. mid‑term elections. White House officials Steven Miller and Stephen Chang echoed the message, claiming Democrats “have done this every day for four years under Biden and will do it on a larger scale if they return to power.”

In Europe, Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni called for Spain’s suspension from the Schengen area, while far‑right groups in the Czech Republic and elsewhere cited the Ceuta footage to demand stricter border controls. The coordinated rhetoric spans the United States and several European nations, linking the migrant surge to domestic political battles.